Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To meet with good fortune; to be in a favorable period: "gặp thời" describes encountering a time of opportunity, favorable circumstances, or good luck, leading to success or prosperity. It implies being at the right place at the right time when conditions are advantageous.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ấy đang gặp thời, công việc kinh doanh phát triển rất nhanh. (He is in a favorable period; his business is growing very quickly.)
  • Cô ấy gặp thời nên được thăng chức chỉ sau một năm. (She met with good fortune, so she got promoted after just one year.)
  • Nhờ gặp thời, ý tưởng của anh ta đã trở nên rất phổ biến. (Thanks to being in a favorable period, his idea became very popular.)

Advanced Usage

• "Đang gặp thời": to be currently in a period of good fortune.

  • Công ty công nghệ đó đang gặp thời. (That tech company is currently riding a wave of good fortune.)

• "Gặp thời gặp vận": a reinforcing phrase emphasizing encountering both the right time and good luck.

  • Muốn thành công lớn, phải gặp thời gặp vận. (To achieve great success, one must meet with both the right time and good luck.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gặp vận (verb phrase): to have good luck, to meet with good fortune. This is a direct synonym often used interchangeably with "gặp thời".

  • Anh ta gặp vận trúng số. (He had the good fortune to win the lottery.)

• Thời cơ (noun): opportunity, favorable moment. This is the "thời" (time/opportunity) element within the phrase.

  • Đây là thời cơ tốt để đầu tư. (This is a good opportunity to invest.)

• Vận may (noun): good luck, fortune. This relates to the "vận" (luck/fortune) aspect.

  • Cô ấy có vận may trong công việc. (She has good luck in her work.)

Synonyms

• Gặp may: to get lucky.
• Được thời: to have the right timing (less common).
• Gặp dịp may: to encounter a lucky chance.

Related Idioms

• "Thời đến cản không kịp": When fortune comes, you can't stop it. This idiom reflects the unstoppable nature of good fortune once the favorable time ("thời") has arrived.

  • Anh ấy giàu lên nhanh chóng, đúng là thời đến cản không kịp. (He became rich quickly; truly, when fortune comes, you can't stop it.)

• "Ở hiền gặp lành": Those who are kind will meet with good things. This is a broader proverb about virtue being rewarded, which can relate to the concept of "gặp thời" as a positive outcome.

  • Cứ sống tốt, rồi sẽ ở hiền gặp lành. (Just live well, and you will eventually be rewarded for your kindness.)

1. (cũng nói gặp vận) Meet with good fortune